The young Irish man who died tragically in Pamplona, northern Spain before the start of the annual bull run today was named as Aidan Holly (23), from Tarbert, Co Kerry.
Mr Holly was a serving soldier in the Irish Army and was on a week’s holidays in Spain.
The authorities in Pamplona said his body was found at the bottom of the city's 120-foot medieval wall yesterday and it is believed he fell. Details were not clear, but locals believe he had climbed to a high wall to take up an early position to get a good view of the annual San Fermin bull run which began this morning.
The Irish authorities were approached by Spanish officials following the discovery of a bank card issued by an Irish bank with Mr Holly's body.
Mr Holly joined the Defence Forces in July last year and was based at the 4th Battalion in Collins Barracks, Cork.
Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley extended their condolences to Mr Holly’s family.
“The thoughts of all members of the Defence Forces are with the Holly family at this very difficult time,” a spokesman said.
The young man had had been very active in GAA and amateur sporting circles spent six weeks cycling around Ireland for charity over a year ago. He was also a keen foreign traveller, and army life suited him, locals said.
The second eldest of a family of four, an older brother David lives in Boston and he has a younger brother Conor and sister Orla. His father Con works with Kerry Co-op and his mother Marie is orginally from Galway.
Parish priest Fr Francis Nolan said the family was informed at about 8am this morning and that he went immediately to the house. The family had a strong faith and had several religious among older relatives and the community was rallying round, Fr Nolan said.
He held a prayer service at the house this afternoon.
“The community are devastated. But it is at times like this we cherish community and the gift of one another and solidarity,” he said.
The Holly family have appealed for privacy, the priest said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said consular assistance is being provided to the family of the dead man.
The traditional nine-day San Fermin running of the bulls festival has been held since the 1590s. It was officially opened yesterday but the morning bull-runs through the Pamplona streets did not begin until today.
The Spanish Red Cross said 13 people suffered injuries in the run this morning. Six were Spanish and the rest were from Britain, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Romania and South Korea.
Since record-keeping began in 1924, 14 runners have died.